Stretcher and supports therefor



March 9, 1937. B. MONK ET AL 2,073,524

STRETCHER AND SUPPORTS THEREFOR Filed Sept. 4, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet l AW w March 9, 1937. B. MONK ET AL 2,073,524

STRETCHER AND SUPPORTS THEREFOR Filed Sept. 4, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 5s 5% 51 f 50 F INVENTOFB March 9, 1937. B. MONK ET AL 2,073,524

' STRETGHER AND SUPPORTS THEREFOR Filed Sept. 4, 1935 s Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Mar. 9, 1937 UNITED STATES STRETCHER AND SUPPORTS THEREFOR Basil Monk, Sander-stead, and Henry John mea wood, Hawkhurst, England, assignors to Tor Equipment Company, Limited, Surrey, England Application September 4, 1935, Serial No. 39,136 In Great Britain September 10, 1934 Claims.

This invention relates to stretchers and supports therefor of the kind wherein a stretcher for a patient is so mounted on its support as to be reciprocable thereon.

5 Such apparatus is particularly adapted for use in performing artificial respiration, and heretofore the stretcher with a patient on it has been mounted to rock like a see-saw on a fixed support about a fixed axis lying transversely between the ends of the stretcher.

The present invention has for one of its objects to mount the stretcher in such manner that the motion of the translation can be imparted in an improved manner to the patient while he is on the stretcher.

According to the invention, there is provided a framework comprising a base, two supports pivoted at their lower ends thereto at situations spaced apart, and connecting means to which the upper ends of said supports are pivoted at situations spaced apart to permit the connecting means to be reciprocated in the direction of length of the same, which framework is characterized in that the supports are so attached to the connecting means, which is constituted by or serves to carry a stretcher, that when the supports are oscillated they impart to the connecting means a tilting as well as a reciprocatory movement for use in imparting to a patient on the stretcher a reciprocatory swinging movement in the direction of his length along a predetermined path. Such a reciprocatory movement during which the head of the patient moves downwards while his feet move upwards, and reversely, is particularly suitable for performing artificial respiration.

The two supports, which are of equal length, may cross one another as viewed in side elevation.

The lengths of the supports and the spacing of their pivots are preferably such that the centre of mass of the stretcher with the patient thereon will move in a substantially horizontal straight line when the supports are oscillated.

The framework described above may be combined with driving means comprising a prime mover for oscillating the one or more supports, which driving means may be adziustable for. varying the amplitude of oscillation of the support or supports.

. Other features of the invention relate to lock-'- ing means for holding the stretcher against oscillatory movement, and to clips or clamps for securing the stretcher on the framework.

One embodiment ofthe invention, and a modi- 55 fication thereof are diagrammatically illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings; wherein:----

Figures 1 and 2 are respectively side and end elevation showing one form of framework according to the invention for carrying a stretcher, 5 and Figures 3 and 4 are side and endelevation, respectively, showing a modified construction of framework provided with driving means for the supports. 10

Figure 5" is a partial side elevation showing another modification.

Like reference characters designate like or similar parts in all the views.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, a base It! 15 in the form of a substantially rectangular horizontal frame comprising two longitudinals l2, l3 and two transverse .end members l4, l5, carries two supports l6, ll, each comprising two parallel struts.

situated towards one end of the frame, and the two struts 22, 23 of the other support I! are mounted similarly to swing about a second trans- 25 verse axis 24 situated towards the other end of the frame. The two inner struts 22, 23 are connected together by bracing 25. The upper ends of the supports I8, I! which cross one another as viewed in elevation, are connected together by 30 connecting means 28 comprisingtwo parallel tie rods 21, 28, the two struts I8, 22 at one side being pivotallyconnected at transverse axes 30, 3| to the tie rod 21 at points spaced apart along the rod, and the two struts I9, 23 at the other side 35 being similarly connected to the other tie rod 28.

The ends of the tie rods 21, 28 extend beyond the struts and carry clips 32, two on each tie rod, into which the side bars 34, 35 of a stretcher 36, indicated in broken lines, can be dropped. 40 Each of these clips 32 comprises two jaws whereof at least one .is movable; preferably, a spring 33 tends to hold the jaws open, and means, such as a thumb screw 38, is provided for holding the jaws closed on a part of the stretcher received 45 between them.

Figures 3 and 4 show a mechanically oscillated framework provided with driving means comprising an electric motor 38 that is mounted on the base I0 and drives a crank 48 by means of re- 50 duction gearing 4|. A connecting rod 42 having one end connected to the crank 40 has its other end arranged to be adjustably connected to a link 44, whereof its lower end is pivotally connected at 45 t0 the base, and its upper end is pivotally The two struts l8, IQ of the support I8 20 ,are pivoted at their lower ends to the two lon- 'gitudinals to swing about a transverse axis 20 connected at 48 to one end of a rod 48 of adjustable length, whereof the'other end is connected to the top of the framework at the transverse axis of pivoting 31. of attachment of the connecting rod 42 to the link 44, the amplitude of oscillation of the framework can be varied.

- When the framework shown in Figures 1 and 2 is driven by hand, or when that shown in Figures 3 and 4 is driven mechanically, the stretcher can be reciprocated so as to move in the direction of its length and also so as to move one end downwards or upwards, and the other end upwards and downwards, respectively, through any desired angle. When mechanical driving means is provided, owing to its being adjustable, the vertical movements of the ends of the stretcher or the angular distance through which either end of the stretcher can be moved above or below the horizontal, or both, can be varied to suit the requirements of a patient. Also, the speed of the driving means may be varied.

In order to hold the patient stationary when desired, locking means may be provided for holding the supports and the stretcher thereon in any desired position. As shown in Figure 3, this locking means may be a rod 50 of adjustable length, e. g. telescopic, having one end pivoted to the base at the transverse axis 20, and its other end having a hook 5| for engaging a pin 52 providing the pivotal axis 3|.

In the construction shown in Figures 3 and 4, clamps or clips 56 of modified form are provided. The upper end of the oscillatory frame carries two transverse rods 54, 55 to which the struts are pivoted, on the outer ends of which rods the clips are carried. Each of these clips 56 comprises a bracket 58 fast on one of the rods 54, 55 and a hooked jaw 59 pivoted on the bracket. A screw 60 passes through the jaw below its pivot and bears against the bracket so that when the screw is turned, the jaw can be tightened on a bar of the stretcher resting on the top of the bracket.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the base I0 is provided with feet 62 which can rest on the ground but can be lifted therefrom by means of angle levers 64, 55 pivoted at the four corners of the base. The shorter arm 55 of each of these levers carries a wheel or roller 66 which can be pressed against the ground for raising the feet therefrom by means of a crank 68 or the equivalent that is journalled on the base below the arm 64 and carries a handle member 69 which, when rocked upwards, lifts the arm 84 and raises the base from the ground for facilitating movement of the apparatus along the ground.

At least one of the pivotal connections of the supports l6, H with the base ID or with their connecting means 26 may be detachable for enabling the framework to be collapsed for storage and transport purposes. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the lower pivots 20, 24 of the supports IS, H are constituted by pivot pins having at one end a head and at the other end a split pin that can be readily removed for detaching the supports. Y

In both of the constructions described above, the length of the struts and the spacing of the pivots is preferably so selected that the centre of mass of the stretcher with the patient thereon will move in a substantially horizontal straight line when the supports are oscillated in the direction of length. of the base. Alternatively, the arrangement may be such that the said centre By changing the point" In each of the described constructions the bars 21, 28 of the connecting means may be constituted by bars of a stretcher, or for particular purposes fabric in place of the bed of the stretcher may be attached directly to the side member 21, 28 and/or to the cross' members 54, 55. As shown in Figure 5, the crossing supports l6, l1 directly carry a stretcher I34 whereof a side bar I35 is shown pivotally attached to the struts I8, 22.

Various'modifications may be made in the details of construction described above without departing from the invention. For example, the two supports I6, I I may each be constituted by a U-shaped member, whereof the side limbs each constitute a strut. for carrying the stretcher. Further, when mechanical operation is employed, the connecting rod 42 may, in some cases, be adjustably connected directly to one of the supports I6, I! of the framework.

We claim:-

1. A device of the character described comprising in combination a base, two supports pivoted at their lower ends thereto at situations spaced apart, connecting means comprising two parallel rods to which the upper ends of said supports are pivoted atsituations spaced apart so that when the supports are oscillated they impart to the rods a reciprocatory movement in the direction of length of the same and also a tilting movement, clips carried by each rod, and a stretcher detachably carried by said clips.

2. A device of the character described comprising in combination a base, two supports pivoted at their lower ends thereon at situations spaced apart, and connecting means to which the upper ends of said supports are pivoted at situations spaced apart so that when the supports are oscillated they impart to the connecting means a reciprocatory movement in the direction of length of the same and also a tilting movement, which connecting means comprises two parallel rods, clips carried by said rods, a stretcher detachably carried by said clips, each of which clips comprises two jaws, whereof at least one is movable, a spring tending to hold each jaw open, and means for holding the jaws closed on a side bar of the stretcher received between them.

3. A device of the character described comprising in combination a base, two supports pivoted at their lower ends thereto at situations spaced apart, connecting means comprising two parallel rods to which the upper ends of said supports are pivoted at situations spaced apart so that when the supports are oscillated they impart to the connecting means a reciprocatory movement in the direction of length of the same and also a tilting movement, and screw-actuated pivoted clamps carried by said rods for detachably holding a stretcher.

4. A device of the character described, comprising in combination a base having two longitudinal members, two supports pivoted at their lower ends to said longitudinal members at situations spaced apart in the direction or their length, each of which supports comprises two struts, two parallel tie-rods to which the upper ends of said struts are pivoted at situations spaced apart along their length at positions such that the supports cross one another as viewed in side elevation, and clamping means carried by said rods for detachably carrying a stretcher in flxed parallel relation therewith.

5. A device of the character described, comprising in combination a base having two longitudinal members, two supports pivoted at their lower ends to said longitudinal members at situations spaced apart in the' direction or their length, each of which supports comprises two struts, two parallel tie-rods to which the upper ends of said struts are pivoted at situations spaced apart along their length at positions such that the supports cross one another as viewed in side elevation, means carried by said rods for detachablycarrying a stretcher in parallel relation therewith, driving means comprising a prime mover mounted on the base, a crank and a connecting rod driven by said prime mover, a rod adjustably connecting the connecting rod to "one of said supports, locking means for holding the supports against oscillator; movement, and means comprising wheels arranged to run on the ground for raising the base above the ground.

BASIL MONK.

HENRY JOHN RICKWOOD. 

